Carol was bored on her daily one-hour walks, so she inventeda game to entertain herself. In the next two blocks she would take exactly 300 steps. Walking as “normally” as possible; first day – needed 25 mini steps, second day – needed 10 giant steps, third day-tried zig-zags and only needed 10 mini steps (zig-zags were fun), and so on.

Little did she know that as she was playing she was also improving her mind; improving the way her brain and body handled space, time, design, and even stress. So, later she was surprised when she was able to avoid a car which had suddenly swerved into her lane by almost effortlessly maneuvering her car, going off the road safely and well.

Play can be lifesaving which is why the military teaches its officers how to improve their ability to play. Einstein riding on a trolley, pretended (played) to ride a light beam as he was watching the town hall clock which enabled him to get the insight he needed to discover that e = mc sq. Miles Davis played with the notes to find the “real” music.

Play helps us deal with our ordeals, and lighten the stress and loads of our lives. Play opens up and heightens our short-term memory and can even help us use our dreams to solve problems, especially creative problems.

Play can help us to use all our talents and skills better, and even lower pain levels and help us heal faster. Play can bring incredible insights into the way you and others function in daily life.

Many people have discovered that a family that plays together is creating a structure and trust that helps when problems arise. The same trust issues can be developed by play in business, which is why those golf and other outings are important and worth the time and money.

There is a funny paradox: play can improve us without our knowing it. Useful play is a skill that can be improved. You too can learn how to use play more effectively which is why I have joined with Jungian and play expert, Dr. Mary Alice Long, to create the workshop: “Know Thy Self and Play for Success.”

Join us for four days of playful transformation. For more information see our flyer. Learn how to play with your problems and stress and turn them into the game pieces of success, as you also improve your
creativity and leadership abilities (including parenting). Besides, we are going to be playing and we’re going to have fun!

These are the two most common questions I hear during the first training session. Unfortunately, almost no one likes my initial response…

Ideally you should exercise EVERYDAY! A little exercise every day, along with a well-balanced diet will help you to lead a healthier, more energetic life. This doesn’t mean you have to hit the weights or sprint on the treadmill for hours each day. Find an outdoor activity you enjoy! Everyday you can do something different. One day you might choose to go for a walk outside. If you’re feeling more ambitious, you might even try playing a sport. Sports can be one of the best forms of exercise, mainly because you don’t have to think of it as an exercise. You don’t have to worry about how many calories you’re burning an hour, or how many reps and sets you have to perform. Just have some fun!

As for the next question: How soon will I see the results I am looking for?Unfortunately there is no great answer for you. Everyone is different and there are many factors that may affect one’s progress. Just because one person reaches their goal in a set amount of time, does not mean the same will be true for you. The best advice I can give is to KEEP WITH IT! How long has your body taken to adjust to your current lifestyle? So you can’t expect a change overnight. This should, and canonly be a lifestyle choice.If you are having trouble getting started, one of the best things you can do is to seek out a certified professional. They can put you on the right track and make sure you are not doing anything that may be harmful to your health. After all, that is what is most important: your health!

Ian Finestein, NASM-CPT, Received his Certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

This is a question at the center of attention of both business and political leaders. At work, employers have for many years expected their employees to do more and more work with less and less assistance. Payroll has been cut to the bone. Productivity has risen, and health care costs have skyrocketed.

Although we consider our nation to be the most powerful in the world, there’s much evidence that we are far from the healthiest. Look at your insurance premiums and you can see why businesses, who traditionally paid all or a lion share of health insurance premiums, are scared as health care costs take up a growing piece of their revenue.

We strongly believe that the wisest thing that any organization can do to decrease their health care costs and enhance the wellness of its staff is to offer Effortless Meditation™ classes. The EM program is a win-win for any employer. Employees love the benefits of meditation. It is easy to do anywhere and the deep rest is nature’s medicine, as important to us as the air that we breathe. Employers who have introduced Effortless Meditation into the workplace find that employees are happier, more energetic and productive; this is truly a win-win situation.

If you know of any business leader, manager or business owner who would like to know about the benefits of stress reduction and wellness through Effortless Meditation™, please pass on to me the contact information. I’d enjoy discussing with them the results of numerous workplace programs that we’ve conducted along with validation for the practice that comes from 40 years of scientific research.Greg Schweitzer, MBA, D.Ay.Effortless Meditation™ instructor